Thrustmaster TCA Realistic Airbus A320 Speedbrake Arm-Disarm Mod - DIY

Realistic Airbus A320 spoiler arm-disarm mod for the Thrustmaster TCA Speedbrake controller.
0:0 What this video is all about
0:46 Precautions before doing this Do-It-Yourself mod
1:29 Parts of the mod, Tools you need
4:34 Begin installation
16:14 Connecting the new switch to the PC/Simulator
Alternative way to wire the new switch without sacrificing the built-in landing gear:
• Wiring option for the ...
20:56 Setting Up, TM software, FS2020 mapping
25:51 Further Options
29:47 Finish
Another latest mod I made:
• Ultimate Detent and Te...
Switch:
id.aliexpress....
Tube:
www.bedbathand...
As funny as it seems, a cheaper, more practical way to get the tube is from these unexpected, totally non-related items. The base tube nearest the handle is almost always the 9mm, .3mm thickness - perfect fit for the rod and the slot opening.
shopee.ph/Tele...
shopee.ph/Back...
STL Files:
www.santiluib3...
cults3d.com/en...
For less hassle, get the ready-to-install DIY Kit here:
www.santiluib3...

[@andershogqvist]

Nice work! It's quite a shame though that this isn't a default feature on an officially Airbus licensed peripheral! The material involved in your solution shouldn't increase the price of the product much at all.

[@johannsiegl8222]

Thank you for those Engineering Skills. I modified my quadrant, and your tutorial and the files you made for 3D-printing are awesome. I used the option with the Position Nr. 3 of the Brake Switch (you show it in another video). Everything works fine and i had much fun modifying the Quadrant-Addon.

[@santiagoluib3]

Johann, thank you. I'm glad it worked for you! Enjoy 😊

[@kydx]

Wooow that’s brilliant well done You’re a person who should be hired from thrustmaster 😂

[@j-da3061]

@ Thrustmaster they don't pay their engineers that well, is why the guys left this crucial feature behind 😄

[@makirigermany]

Wow, you are an better engineer than these guys of the Origin Product. Greetings from Germany! Very nice

[@fsprimo]

That’s some good engineering right there !!

[@christianandre9804]

Toujours aussi efficace Santi BRAVO

[@Kopplin382]

Your mods are amazing. I hope you could do the same with the honeycomb throttle quadrant! Cheers!

[@averagepolandenjoyer2474]

Really good as always :)

[@Armagedon_13]

Maybe can be added more buttons and stuff but you need to change the code of the stm32 and try to find a free output or add a new mc to share the data or a mux

[@A73-95]

Brilliant i wish i could do that

[@ZenMotionSim]

you could have done like an adaptor to reuse the original knob - a printout that woul go into the knob and then into the 9mm tube

[@ruimartins7759]

Very good. Excelent idea. Thank you.

[@laxtjt]

Very cool modification and a helpful video! One question I have is how did you remove the gear switch from the circuit board? My gear handle broke off and I want to remove and replace the switch from the circuit board with a new one. thank you!!

[@Cyber_Cochon]

Very clever! Good job !

[@kenknowles51]

Just a word of caution - I originally positioned the arm switch as shown (disarm = closed) but instead of wiring it into the gear or autobrake, passed it through to the right side “fire warning” / black button on the throttle (I was already using the left button for something). This caused two problems. 1) This button specifically is used to put the controller in hardware calibration mode if it is held down when connected to USB - so it means that with the spoilers disarmed the button was effectively held down anytime I turned on the PC which messed up my axis calibrations for the thrust levers (thought I’d broken them😅 until I found out what happened). 2) it meant that the mapping in FS2020 required disarm to be on-press and arm to be on-release. This made it impossible to deploy the spoilers in flight as the disarm was constantly pressed returning them to retracted position (made the flap handle in the fenix go crazy). Solution was to re-orient the switch so that disarm = switch open and don’t wire to the right side black button, only the left side! Great mod though, really recommend it!!

[@buuntaa1986]

Great Video once again Santi. With the white ring, could you make the gap between the guides slightly bigger to accommodate it.

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi, thanks! Sorry I didn't quite get it.... By "white ring", which part are you referring to? :)

[@buuntaa1986]

@@santiagoluib3 Where you put the white sticker to indicate that the Spoilers are armed. You mentioned in the vid that the sticker would get ripped off by the guides. Could you not widen the gap slightly between the guides to accommodate a full white ring around the shaft

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi@@buuntaa1986 , it's the actual TM enclosure box that has limited gap, not my railing mods. With the addition of the 9mm tube you now have zero tolerance in those gap, so you can actually feel a very slight rubbing against it, but nothing too tight to cause tension. A solution is to file the gaps in that retract position to allow some space on installation and operation. Anyway, you only need to pull the lever up in that position only :) cheers!

[@buuntaa1986]

Ahhhh thanks for elaborating. Anyway great job with the mod. Why Thurstmaster didn't do this in the first place astounds me.@@santiagoluib3

[@abassman1976]

@@santiagoluib3 what’s your contact info??

[@wattie60]

Really nice work ! Can you make us know when it will be able to ship the full kit from UK. I live in France so it will be the better option for me. Thank you.

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi @wattie60, Thank you. The kit has been available for shipping to UK since launch 😊. The crazy high shipping cost has now been reduced to about half (still not cheap but better than what it used to be). It still ships from Philippines (for now) and ships between 20-25 days. Please visit my store at Santiluib3.com 😊

[@wattie60]

Thank you for that fast answer@@santiagoluib3

[@EddiZ-BZ]

Sorry if instead of backscratchers I found 8 mm window curtain tensioners, drilled thoroughly with an 8mm drill bit until it slides well on the speedbrake rod. Here it's hard to find 8 mm aluminum tube, thickness 0.3. I'm happy if it can help someone. Ciao and thank you

[@santiagoluib3]

Happy that you found an alternative. Though drilling the 8mm tube thoroughly until it slides through the rod may be quite of a task for others, the good thing is that yo have proven it works!! Very helpful for people who can't source out those "back scratchers" in their regions. Thanks for the info Edd!

[@EddiZ-BZ]

@@santiagoluib3 But finally I found an item in a local China Shop that fits perfectly: a small fishing net with a telescopic handle that has a 9 mm section and 0.3 mm thickness. Cost €1.30. Perfect Ciao

[@sundar999]

Great ingenuity! The arch through which the handle is moving for the spoiler unit from Thrustmaster looks bigger than the real arch, and the Thrustmaster throttle quadrant looks smaller than the real one. Is it so? And if it's so it's a pity

[@RSAF100]

Gr8 job, can you make like this modification for tca thrust master joystick that part of side stick which is trim or camera view change . To make it exact like real airbus. I hope you understand my point 😢

[@hobbytechgearID69]

GREAT WORK❤

[@hugozeledon]

you made look so easy jajaja

[@lol-j7u]

really nice work but is there a way that will not take of the landing gear function ? cause i really need to use it

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi Aili, Yes I have another guide video for alternate wiring so you keep your landing gear :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnnVnXyqnd93erc

[@coriscotupi]

Great idea and tutorial. On a related note, this goes to show how companies are making money off of half-baked products. How can they sell an "Airbus" speedbrake lever with such an important functionality missing? Even my home-made thrust lever quadrant (thrust levers + flap lever + parking brake + speed brake + gear lever + buttons for A/P, A/T, LOC, APPR and LO/MED/HI autobrakes) has the appropriate interlocks for the speedbrake arming, plus thrust lever reverse interlock. Why a company such as Thrustmaster would not include it in their product is beyond me.

[@santiagoluib3]

Exactly my sentiment. Probably to lower production cost and retail price, at the cost of sacrificing important features. But if you look at my mod, it doesn't cost too much, and it works. A serious simmer would probably be willing to shell off another 30-50 bucks on their product just to get that feature.

[@coriscotupi]

@@santiagoluib3 No doubt, you added value to the product. You clearly put a lot of thought into your mod, it's is a simple and elegant solution that adds a missing feature at little cost. Well done, sir.

[@RSNorris-z1b]

Hi great work can not wait for my 3d printer to turn up. This is now job number 1 for it ! I just brought the 3D prints from the site, and thankyou for sharing. Couple of questions tho. Did you use PLA ? What pins did You solider too using the spare buttons under engines one and two buttons ? As I want to keep my landing gear and makes sence to use a buttion I dont use. Alliexpress is not in engish (AUS) and I am fining it really hard to navagate, Would there be a button on Amazon to replace it and could you provide a link ? I have searched but dont know the size of your switch. Thanks so much !!

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi, thanks! Yes I use PLA. As to the pins on the main throttle (square) buttons, any of the two pairs of "legs" of one of the buttons you can solder on. If you do not want to remove the stock button, you can solder underneath the circuit board, but that would mean two actuations: one from this mod's toggle switch and the other from the stock button when pressed. I would remove the button so only the mod can actuate it, and solder the mod wire with a male terminal pin through those pair holes left from the stock switch you remove :) Run the wires underneath the controllers for a cleaner result by drilling holes underneath. For the switch, you can try this: www.amazon.com/mxuteuk-Terminal-Position-Miniature-Dashboard/dp/B07QGDDTWJ/ref=sr_1_6?content-id=amzn1.sym.e2c28ff9-1053-428b-96a0-2b4986391ffa%3Aamzn1.sym.e2c28ff9-1053-428b-96a0-2b4986391ffa&crid=MAPWIDPAPIF5&keywords=switches&pd_rd_r=0c02d100-27e2-445e-a397-c97a3cfba5d9&pd_rd_w=JsUD4&pd_rd_wg=t6NHk&pf_rd_p=e2c28ff9-1053-428b-96a0-2b4986391ffa&pf_rd_r=2Z3DQ66Y61QE92PCPZQV&pid=FlRzCG5&qid=1693624572&refinements=p_n_feature_eight_browse-bin%3A18644646011&s=industrial&sprefix=2-position%2Bspst%2Bmino%2Btoggle%2Bflat%2Bhan%2Caps%2C340&sr=1-6&th=1 you may need to adjust the position of the switch bracket in case the handle is shorter/longer than the one the video is using. Have a go at it! :)

[@RSNorris-z1b]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I will be having go. I will let everyone know the outcome. thanks again.@@santiagoluib3

[@johntdsb264]

Wow! Amazing and creative! I do have a question. If I want to still use the landing gear lever, then what should I do? Because you connected the spoilers cable where the landing gear lever is supposed to be.

[@santiagoluib3]

Thank you John. Are there buttons on the TCA that you are not using? Common examples are those two black square buttons on either sides of the Engine Mode Selector. You can freely solder the wires of the mod switch to any button that you are not using and map it accordingly in-sim. In my case, I used the landing gear button for two reasons: 1) I have a separate DIY landing gear panel 2) it's neater for the wire to be in the same unit and NOT having it cross to the main unit to tap on other buttons. But you can do it of course. :)

[@johntdsb264]

@@santiagoluib3 thank you for your response! :)

[@wilfarpel]

Good evening, I would like to see your kit ready to change the spoiler of the Thrustmaster A320, but I haven't found a way to send it to Brazil. I would really like to buy it. How do I send it to Brazil? I await your return. thanks.

[@baderbattikhi3567]

did you use the logitech quadrant for your own landing gear lever? follow up question, is it the reverse part of it?

[@santiagoluib3]

Haha yes! Very old Logitech quadrant, but I used just the handle only 😂. There is a toggle switch at the end of the handle that serves as the actual ldg gear switch. This is sort of a makeshift landing gear panel that I plan to upgrade soon ;)

[@baderbattikhi3567]

@@santiagoluib3 dude it’s a brilliant idea, after i saw it i thought of doing one myself, i have an old logitech quad collecting dust in my closet, but where did you get the printout of the panel?

[@santiagoluib3]

@@baderbattikhi3567 i made the panel myself in Photoshop and printed it on Vinyl sticker and stuck on 5mm Sintra (PVC) board. Of course backlighting is not possible with it, but as long as I get the functionality I'm good with it :) If you need the decal, email me at [e-mail] I can send you a copy :) Cheers!

[@lazo5784]

Good video.

[@santiagoluib3]

As funny as this may sound, a good cheaper source of the tube can be had from these totally non-related items. The last (base) tube nearest the handle is almost always the 9mm, 0.3mm thickness - perfect fit for the rod and the enclosure openning! shopee.ph/Back-Scratcher-Telescopic-Scratching-Backscratcher-Massager-Kit-Back-Scraper-i.471693230.11052895918?sp_atk=7bcf4bd1-5d21-4010-a566-65a31d4bfadd&xptdk=7bcf4bd1-5d21-4010-a566-65a31d4bfadd

[@Luis-TioZaoDoFS]

Santi, have you this complete kit ready to delivery for just plug and play?

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi Luis, sorry for the late reply. The mod basically comes as a DIY kit so you have to install it yourself. By "plug and play" I'd assume you mean an already modified unit? If so, yes I also provide a brand new unit with the mod applied, not just for this unit alone, but also for the whole TM TCA QUADRANT with all myn5 mods applied. 😊

[@danielclark3658]

Does the switch come with the kit if ordered from your website?

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi Daniel, If you order the physical kit, the switch comes with it. For the downloadable version, you have to buy the switch 😊 I hope that helps.

[@andruxa3005]

man gr8 job, well done. you could do this for m0ney and im sure you will have lots of lazy virtual pilots(like me:D) who gonna pay for upgrade,

[@stormike]

can you please help me with controls settings? mine don't always work (every second time only)

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi, can you drop me an email at [e-mail] please

[@stormike]

@@santiagoluib3 sure. can check it. thx!

[@lol-j7u]

there is no model or instructions of the meatal tube where and how can i buy it

[@santiagoluib3]

If you read the video description above, there are three links where you can get the tubes :) Cheers!

[@lol-j7u]

@@santiagoluib3 thanks

[@lol-j7u]

@@santiagoluib3 where can i buy the small blue arduino board, the nano?

[@infiniteflight2140]

so if i do that i can't use anymore the landing gear right?

[@santiagoluib3]

If you do exactly what I did, then yes no more landing gear knob. BUT, you don't have to use that switch as I did. You are not limited to that switch. There are other choices, like 1) using one of those two square buttons on the sides of the Engine Ignition/Start knob in the main throttle unit. Another way 2) in the same spoiler unit (though tricky to do and access and not mentioned in the video at the time of recording), is to use the pin for position 3 in the AUTO BRK selector knob- the knob just below the landing gear. This position (3) is unused in FBW or Fenix. It goes from LO, Med(position 2), 3=nothing, then Max (position HI on the unit). So position 3 is unused, and therefore you can tap the wire there. You can then bind the spoiler arm/disarm on this knob position in the sim control options. I hope that doesn't sound to complex :)

[@infiniteflight2140]

​@@santiagoluib3thanks

[@AviationCrashes69]

Hi, i have a quick question, will this work with X-Plane 12? Because I’m not sure if it will count as a button. BTW really creative. I wish Thrustmaster had already designed it like this

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi, it wouldn't know what software you run, so that means it would literally run on any simulator :)

[@AviationCrashes69]

@@santiagoluib3 ok, thank you :)

[@Fahrstuhlmusik]

Really looking forward to the next video with the stronger thrust detents, they are very strong on the real thing. Regarding this mod: do you know if I can solider the wires to the two lowest positions of the rotary autobrake switch? I don't need all of them. Also, can I just sand away the unused detents to only keep the middle one?

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi. The throttle detent mod is coming very soon. To your other questions, Yes and Yes. Just identify the pins of the last two positions of that knob. And when you solder it there, note there will be two actuators of the Spoiler arm - the mod and the default knob 😂.

[@Fahrstuhlmusik]

@@santiagoluib3 thank you for answering! I should be able to find that out. Am I correctly assuming, that I'll need an on-on switch for this to work rather than an on-off one like you used? Also, any plans to mod the parking brake to be a pull&twist lever? :) Cheers!

[@santiagoluib3]

@@Fahrstuhlmusik the same switch (on-off) will do. If you decide to use this knob, i suggest keep it in the 'disarm' position at all times, then solder your new switch wires, one on the ground pin indicated by the little white triangle, and the other on the 3rd pin after the ground. Then on buttton mapping just find that button that corresponds to the pin you used which is the 'BTV' on the controller label. Do the soldering underneath the board, it's easier. And yes, i plan to do that flap lift-unlock thingy too :)) in fact also the Engine start switches!

[@gilgaspar320]

Does it work with Toliss?

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi. Yes. The mod technically is not aware what sim you use. As long as the sim recognizes the TM TCA button used to wire the new switch, it should work. :)

[@santiagoluib3]

Sorry this came late, but this is an alternative and easier way to wire the new switch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnnVnXyqnd93erc

[@OzzySafa]

I would happily send over my unit for you to mod for me. id pay anything for not having to do this myself.

[@santiagoluib3]

Hi, I'd be happy to mod it for you. You can email me so we can discuss our options. :)

[@dominicverra9464]

do it work on xbox

[@santiagoluib3]

hi dominic, I am not sure but if XBox supports the Thrustmaster TM TCA unit, then I suppose this mod works there too! The simulator wouldn't know a spoiler mod is there as we're only using one of its existing buttons :)

[@ganntradingsystemstimecycl2783]

This great, unless you have a 3d printer kinda stuffed..

[@santiagoluib3]

Thanks. Either you have the 3D parts printed outsource online service, or Ready to install DIY kits will be available soon online :)

[@ganntradingsystemstimecycl2783]

@@santiagoluib3 Great to know cheers

[@Dutch_Pancake]

Step 1: Buy an expensive 3D printer. :/

[@santiagoluib3]

Yes, if you're into such DIY hobby, a 3D printer is a good tool. But of course, if you don't want to spend on a 3D printer, it's way cheaper if you buy the ready-to-install DIY kit :) Cheers mate!

[@Dutch_Pancake]

@@santiagoluib3 Ah I see I didn't know you could be these pieces already printed. :P